Over a dozen firms have prequalifed for the pre-conceptual design of the much-delayed Sharq Crossing scheme.

Firms that are understood to have been prequalified for the contract include:

• ANAS Tec Gulf Engineering (local)
• Arcadis (Canada) / Aecom (US)
• ASTAD Project Management (local)
• Atkins (UK)
• Calatrava International (Switzerland)
• CH2M (US) 
• Cowi (Denmark)
• Dar Group (Lebanon)
• Dorsch Gruppe (Germany)
• Parsons (US)
• QDVC (local)
• Systra (France)
• WorleyParsons (Australia)
• WSP (Canada).

MEED understands the client, Qatar’s Transport Ministry, received the prequalifier applications earlier this year.

A team comprising Qatar National Bank (QNB), UK-based Arup and PwC undertook and completed a value engineering study for the scheme in 2016. MEED understands the client approved the results of the study.

MEED also reported last year that the project budget, initially estimated at $12bn, was awaiting final approval from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Spain’s Santiago Calatrava prepared an initial concept design for the crossing, which includes three bridges connected by subsea tunnels. The three bridges were to link Hamad International airport with the Katara cultural district in the northern part of the capital Doha and with the central business area of West Bay.

In 2016-17, talks of re-scoping the project included a proposal to exclude the planned subsea tunnels and build only one bridge instead of the three.

The client was also understood to be considering a number of procurement options including public-private partnership (PPP), as well as splitting the total cost of the project between the government and private investors.

However, a source familiar with the project told MEED that a PPP model is unlikely to work unless the project is re-scoped because of Qatar’s small population and low ratio of car ownership.

Qatar officially announced the Sharq Crossing scheme in December 2013. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) began prequalifying contractors for a number of packages the following year. However, progress slowed later that year and the decision not to hire a consultant to prepare the tender documents led to speculation that the project has been put on hold.

Sources close to the project said that although the Transport Ministry, which was formed in 2014, was reviewing the project, Ashghal is still responsible for the delivery.